Switching Your Wig Up: How Many Ways To Braid It?

The Switch Up Game is Real

LaTaye here and I am back to help you get cute and find your purpose at the same dang time this entire year!

Now, I hope you have not given up on your resolutions already because if you have, I need you to go pick them back up and try again. I mean if you plan on leaving the haters behind, I need you to stick to the resolution because you’re going to look gorgeous doing it!

This is a new year, and it’s time you shock them all with your hairstyle switch-ups. The key to being fearless, this year, is to try new styles and find new uses for some of those wigs you may have given up on.

You may be wondering how you can get the most out of your wigs without having to wear the same style over and over again.

Change things up with a braid! Braids are an excellent way to switch up your hairstyle.

I love how times had changed because before your only option if you wanted braids, was to sit for over 2 hours to get them. Now, you can buy a braided wig or repurpose an old one and braid it yourself.

I’ve got some tips on how to change up your style by using different braid techniques on your wigs. I love the versatility of wigs, and these style choices are another reason I love wearing them.

For these braided styles, you should use a clean and conditioned wig. To get started, here are my suggestions on how to clean, condition, and dry your wigs.

Cleaning Your Human Hair Wigs

SUPPLIES

Use your paddle brush to start brushing the tangles out from the ends toward the roots of the wig. Detangling the hair before shampooing it makes the process so much easier. To wash the wig, you can use a bowl or sink.

I prefer using the sink so that there’s enough space to shampoo the wig thoroughly.

Use the following steps to get your human hair wig clean:

Step #1

Pin your wig to the styrofoam head to make it easier to manage the wig

Step #2

Use lukewarm water to wet your wig

Step #3

Spread about a quarter size of shampoo onto the crown of your wig (optional)

Step #4

Use your fingers to move the shampoo down the hair strandsNote: Make sure to rub shampoo onto the inside of the wig as well (optional)

Step #5

Rinse the shampoo out of the hair thoroughly (optional)

Step #6

Take your conditioner and squeeze it into your wig

Step #7

Rub the conditioner into the hair thoroughly to the ends

Step #8

Rinse the conditioner out of the hair thoroughly

Step #9

Wrap the wig in a towel to remove excess water

Step #10

Allow your wig to air dry (preferred method), or you can blow dry it on low heat

Once your wig has dried, you can braid the wig in the style you choose

Note: The shampoo step is optional because some people don’t like to shampoo their wigs due to belief shampoo is too harsh for them.

Supplies Needed:

Learn how to get this look by bleaching the frontal knots for forty-five minutes and, overall, how to make a bomb wig.

Next, you are going to pluck your frontal, if it’s not pre-plucked, to make it look as realistic as possible and remove the bulk from the hairline area.

Use the following steps to pluck your frontal properly:

Step #1

T-Pin your wig to a styrofoam head to keep it secure as you work with the frontal

Step #2

Use a pair of slanted tweezers and go around the edge of the hairline

Step #3

Part the frontal about 3 inches back from the hairline

Step #4

Begin plucking the hair away from the hair

Step #5

This process can take about 15-20 minutes.

Honestly, properly plucking your frontal takes times and practice.

I recommend not plucking too much to ensure you get the right look. Take a break and come back to look at the frontal to see where you need to go back in and pluck some more.

After you have completed this process, you are ready to put on your wig!

Put on a nude wig cap to protect your hair and give you a smooth foundation under your wig. Make sure you pull the band of the wig cap past your hairline because you will be cutting it off later.

Applying Your Wig to Your Head

First, began by applying Got 2 B Ultra Hold glue or Gorilla Snot on top of the wig cap. Apply a thin coat. The glue will soak through onto your hairline which is what you want it to do. Now, use your blow dryer to dry the glue.

Once the glue is dry, cut the excess cap off. Most of it will be the headband part of the wig cap. Your entire hairline will have the cap covering it, and the glue will be dry.

Grab your pressed powder and a makeup brush to color the entire hairline of the cap. Remember you want the parts to look natural, so this is why you cover it with a powder which will blend with your skin tone.

Apply a second thin layer of glue to your cap’s hairline and put on your wig. Grab your rattail comb and use the metal end of it to smooth the lace of your wig onto the cap.

Take your time, so you get a good result. Some people choose to dry the front with a blow dryer. I prefer to use my scarf and tie down my hairline for about 20 minutes to get a smooth look.

Slaying The Look

Next, let’s get to slaying the total look and find the middle of your head and clip the hair up. You may need an extra set of hands to help you out with this part. Your helper will need to hold the frontal down as you braid.

On each side of the section, you clipped up, braid a very small curved cornrow on each side. At this point, you will have two braids and the middle section.

Next, part the middle section you clipped up and put a small cornrow right in the middle of it. At this point, you should have a braid, loose hair, center braid, loose hair, and a braid.

Part a section of the hair (from left to right) at the hairline and leave it out. You are creating little boxes between the parts. Repeat this step on the opposite side of your middle cornrow.

Grab your eco-style gel and apply to the roots of the two sections on the opposite sides of the center braid. Smooth the gel and comb through both sections. They are at the front your hairline and will be left out.

Let them hang over your face at this point.

Now, make the same size parts, as described earlier, but this time you will secure each small section with a rubber band.

You should have about 10-12 little sections. The beauty of the stitch braid is the neatness so take your time and if you need to create more than 12 sections do so.

Ready To Braid!

Once you complete the horizontal sections, you are going to braid them all together.

You will braid the sections you left out at the front of your hairline later. Doing this gives you a smooth hairline. Apply a dab of gel to the front and braid the loose section with the horizontal sections braiding straight to the back.

Secure the combined braid with a rubber band.

Repeat this step on the other side.

You can wear this style in a variety of ways. Try wearing a topknot, a sleek ponytail, a braid, or you can continue with the braid pattern and braid the entire front of the wig.

Individual Box Braids

Supplies

T-pin your 360 lace frontal wig to your styrofoam head. Take the lace frontal apart from the rest of your wig (if it is attached). If your frontal is separate, you can skip this step.

Use the following steps to achieve the box braid look:

Step #1

Put your dome spandex cap on your styrofoam head.

Step #2

Pull your needle through your dome cap leaving enough length at the end of the thread so you can tie it.

Step #3

Cut the thread so that you have two ends of thread sticking out from your dome cap. Remember you will have to tie this thread twice, so it needs to be long enough to do so.

Step #4

With your braiding hair in hand, place it evenly between the thread. Tie the braided hair down with the thread and then tie it once again to secure it tightly. Braid the hair as you would typically do with a three-strand braid pattern.

You can use a t-pin to keep the base of your braid to the styrofoam head, so it remains stable and doesn’t tug as you are completing the braid

Attach the frontal once you get to the crown of the dome. These instructions are from the article mentioned earlier, and I am posting them here to make it easier for you.

Place your spandex cap on your styrofoam head sized for your head. Flip the edge of your cap over onto to the top of the cap. The edge is the thicker portion of the cap that usually rests on your forehead.

Pre-threading your needles first save time so when I do need to re-thread any needles I can use that time as my break.

Time To Sew

Take your frontal and place it on your capped styrofoam head. If you want to verify your measurements first, you can put the cap on your head and mark the top of your ears with a white pencil.

Once you place it on your head, it will be easy for you to put your frontal in the correct place and pin it in place on each side. Make sure the front of your frontal is lined up with the edge of the cap. The baby hairs should not be on the cap but in front of it.

Once you pin it correctly, gather all of the hair and tie it up and away so you can see your lace when you when you sew it to the cap.

At the ear area, make sure you leave a little lace on the sides to sew your frontal. You want to avoid damaging the lace where the hair is so this helps to secure your frontal without tearing it.

Stitch the corner of the frontal and continue sewing using the loop and pull method sewing away from you.

Learn The Method

In this method, you will take your needle through the frontal, and the cap leaves and brings the needle and thread through the loop to secure your extension. Sew both sides down while making sure your stitches are close together to prevent buckling.

Now, we’re going to go ahead and sew the back of the frontal down. Here, you will pull your cap a little to remove any buckling you see as you are sewing the frontal.

This sewing technique is perfect for a great fitting wig so take your time and don’t get frustrated! As you are sewing, your thread should follow your needle. Remember to keep your stitches close and tight and keep stitching away from you.

Once your frontal is attached, you will begin braiding the hair in your frontal with the braiding hair you used in the back of the wig. Make your sections small with the lace front because once you add in the braiding hair, you want the braids in the front to be the same size as the braids in the back.

Once you complete braiding the frontal; you will have the remaining portion of your lace frontal which should have your baby hairs on it.

You can keep them on, which I prefer, or you can cut the lace and sleek down on your edges. Cut off any flyaways and dip your braids in hot water to seal the ends.

To wear the braided wig

Put on a stocking cap. Sleek your edges by using Got 2 B Glued to secure the front of the wig to the cap.

The Wrap-up on Your New Style Options

These two braid styles for your wigs will help you get more versatility out of your wigs.

You will see the advantage of this if you are trying to get more use out of one you may have put away. I love bringing useful information to you to help you get more out of your extensions and wigs.

Comment below to let me know what you liked best about this article and what else you want to know.

Be sure to tag @privatelabelextensions on Instagram when you create your custom unit.